Saturday, 30 April 2011

I hope you've all managed to watch the Royal Wedding by now. I was glued to the telly from 10am and although it was a Royal wedding and a fair bit of pomp and circumstance goes with the territory, what actually struck me most about the whole thing was how happy and in love Wills and Kate seem to be - just like any other young couple on their wedding day. It really was a beautiful, special occasion for the Royals and for Britain as a country. In the afternoon, we went round to my cousin's for a barbecue, which was lovely...lots of fab food and great company. The 'boys' even recreated the wedding in lego, which kept them entertained for a couple of hours (and when I say boys, their ages range from Sam, who's 10 to my cousin, who's 24!!!)
Now....given my love of the Simply Sassy range, I've decided to try and share with you a Simply Sassy card every Saturday.....and here's the first one:

This is quite possible my favourite Simply Sassy (but then I say that about all of them LOL!!!). I've watercoloured her with distress inks and cut around her leaving a slight white outline, which is something that I've never done before but think it looks quite effective, 'specially against the black background. The sentiment is from Inkadinkado and I thought it went pretty well with the image! I've added the images to a mat that I've cut out using my swirling lace Martha Stewart PATP and then stuck it to a base card covered with some MAMBI leopard print paper. I do love a bit of leopard print, I always say that I'm turning into Bet Lynch in my old age, hee, hee!!! The button is from Tim Holtz and I've stitched it to a big tulle bow. The tulle was once white but I coloured it with a black promarker. I also sprayed it with some Ranger perfect pearl mist, so IRL, it's quite sparkly but you can't see that in the pics.
I'm entering it into the following challenges:

OK - I think that's it! If there are any that have a maximum entry requirement, then I'm sorry, please just delete my entry! Hope you like it everyone. I'd really love to hear what you think and I always really appreciate any comments you leave me. Right, we're off for a late trip to the toy shop and Iceland for some magnums!!! See you again soon...........xx

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

Hello and welcome to the very first blog hop forJust Some Lines!! Today we're introducing our new DT by showing off some gorgeous wedding themed images created by our owner and talented illustrator, Jehanne. By taking part in the hop, you have the chance to win an individual image from each DT member's blog or the GRAND PRIZE winner will win ALL 10 images!!

To play along, follow the hop order and leave a comment on each blog you visit. You don't need to leave a comment at the last stop, which is the JSL shop, but you must leave a comment on all the other 11 blogs you visit to have a chance at winning.

We also have a challenge that will be going on this week, April 27-May 4 along with the hop. Our challenge is to use a wedding theme and you can use any image you want, but if you use a 'Just Some Lines' image, you will get 2 entries in our draw for the random winner.

You should've arrived here fromLola's blog. If you didn't, please go back to theJSL blogand start at the beginning.

Here's my card (featuring the image that you could win by leaving a comment for me):

I've used the '2 birds with rings' image from Just Some Lines, coloured with promarkers. All of my papers are from Papermania and I've added a Martha Stewart punched border, some lace and pearls from my stash and some gorge flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts. I've followed the sketch over atStamp with Funfor my card.

I hope you like it. Don't forget to leave me a comment to be in with a chance of winning the image. Your next stop isTina's blog. Enjoy the rest of the hop (you're nearly at the end now!) And don't forget, you've got until the end of the week to take part. Bye for now........xx

Monday, 25 April 2011

It's magical Monday over at Paper Cupcakes and today, Jenn has set us the challenge of making a multi fold card. Here's mine:

I've used the Paper Cupcakes images: Elvis in Boots (coloured with promarkers) and one of the variety tickets. Now - the reason I've called my post a simple step card - I've used a scalloped Craftwork Cards card blank, measured a halfway point that was wide enough for my image and then marked the halfway point front and back on the opposite side. I've then cut the middle line down to the halfway mark and scored the other lines and then folded it in, so that the original spine of the card is now the other way. Hope that makes sense!!?? It really was v easy - if it needs any more explanation, please let me know!! I've used Forever Friends retro papers and embossing folder and added Papermania ribbon and bow and a boat charm from my stash. Hope you like it!!
I hope you've enjoyed your Easter weekend, it's always nice to wake up on a Monday and realise that it's a bank holiday!! We've got a really fun day planned today - it's my great aunt's 70th, so we're having a big family outing to the crazy golf course and then off to the pub for lunch! I'm really looking forward to it, so I'd better be off, I've gotta go and jump in the shower. Have a great day, whatever you've got planned and I hope you'll leave me some love and join in with the challenge!! Bye for now........xx

Sunday, 24 April 2011

Today there's a new challenge over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp but as it's the challenge's 2nd Birthday, we're having a Birthday Blog Hop, with lots of prizes, to celebrate and as well as that, we've got two big surprises to share with you!! The first is that because of the continuing success of the challenge, from this week, we're going weekly!! And we're also revealing some new DT members - so, please hop over to Sunday Sketch and Stamp to find out all the details and to start the hop!!
This week, it was Maggie's turn to come up with the sketch and here's my card:

I've used a Wild Rose Studio stamp, coloured with promarkers and WRS papers. The thin strip of pink ribbon is something that I've recycled! It held a clothing label on in a previous life LOL!! I've left the card CAS, because the papers are quite 'busy' and I wanted to be able to see them.Now, for those of you taking part in the blog hop, you should've arrived here from Mandy (if you didn't you need to go back to the challenge blog and start at the beginning). My birthday is 11th December. Make sure you leave me a comment, visit all the blogs on the hop (for a full list go back to Sunday Sketch and Stamp) and send the full list of birthdays to the challenge email address: sundaysketchandstamp@gmail.com, with the title ‘2nd Birthday Blog Hop’. Now you need to carry on hopping to Mira! And don't forget, some of the girls are offering special birthday candy too! I hope you'll join us in celebrating our birthday, and have a wonderful Easter Sunday everyone! TTFN xx

Friday, 22 April 2011

I was absolutely thrilled to have been asked to stay on as a DT member of Just Some Lines and the plan is for a different member of the DT to post and showcase one of Jehanne's beautiful images most days of the week, over on the JSL blog - and today it's my turn!!!

On my card (which is a card blank from Craftwork Cards), I've used the gorgeous Gab 1 from Just Some Lines, all of the papers are from First Edition Spring Feast, which are soooo pretty and glittered IRL. I've also added a border punched with a MS punch, Craftwork Cards card candy, some butterflies punched with a MS punch, some punched flowers and a Crate paper rub-on greeting.I've got a little tip for those of you who have got these First Edition papers - I know lots of you have cos they're v popular. In the pad, there's about 4 sheets of little tags, which I don't know about you, but I know I won't use that many BUT they're the perfect size for the MS butterfly punch, and as you can usually see at the bottom of a punch where you're punching, I'm sure you could use other punches too!!I'm also entering my card into the Addicted to Stamps challenge #2, as I've followed their fabby sketch! And that's about it from me cos it's too nice outside to be sitting in front of my computer!!
Have a wonderful Easter weekend and I hope you're all having as wonderful weather as we're having here in London. See you again soon.

Wednesday, 20 April 2011

.........or so the old saying goes but I think it makes a fab combination!! And there's a new challenge starting today over at Southern Girls and this time around we want to see your 'Blue and Green' creations!! Here's my card:

I've used a gorgeous 'Teddy Bo' image, which I've coloured with prismacolour pencils blended with sansodor. All the papers that I've used are First Edition Up, Up and Away, then I've added some silk ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon co, a tag cut from the papers and stamped with a Paula Pascual greeting stamp, and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.
I'm well pleased with how Teddy Bo turned out because I was meant to use one of these images for the last Southern Girls challenge and I tried colouring them with distress inks and promarkers and neither of them looked right but huge thanks to my dearest friend, Edna who makes the most wonderful Teddy Bo/Bea cards because I drew alot of inspiration from her blog when I was colouring my Teddy Bo and he finally came out OK!!! What d'you think?
I'm entering my card into The Teddy Bo Tuesday Challenge # 8, which is 'Tag It' and Sketch Saturday Week # 151, as I've followed their sketch for my card. And that's about it!
Don't forget to hop over and check out the other wonderful projects that the DT have come up with at Southern Girls and make sure you join in with our challenge - there's some great prizes and there's a seperate one for participants from Aus/NZ and one for elsewhere.
Right, I'm off to get on with more cardmaking - I'm feeling quite inspired at the minute! Back soon...........x

Monday, 18 April 2011

It's the start of a new week and hopefully this lovely weather we've had over the weekend will continue! Along with Mondays, comes a new challenge over at Paper Cupcakes and this week, it's Ildiko's turn to set the challenge and she wants us to do a bright, cheery card in the colours green, orange and yellow. There's also a fab freebie to work with: 'Hello Sunshine'. Here's my card:

I've coloured the image with promarkers. All the papers, flowers and buttons are from the Papermania 'Sunshine' capsule collection. And I've used one of my new Craftwork Cards card blanks that I picked up at Ally Pally.
I've followed the sketch at I love promarkers, so I'll be entering my card into Challenge #61. Hope you like it. Have a good week!! Bye for now........x

Sunday, 17 April 2011

Evening all. I'm back from my little trip down to Ramsgate. It was nice to be away for a couple of days but then I'm always happy to be back home (and back with my crafty stash LOL!!) We went shopping when we got down there on the Friday afternoon - Sam got a new summer jacket and some trainers - turns out his feet are now the same size as his mum and his nan at the age of 10, a 5 1/2!!! I managed a very brief dash round Hobbycraft but they were closing, so couldn't have a proper look! Then we went for something to eat at Frankie and Benny's - yum!! On Saturday, we went to Manston Second World War Memorial Museum and the Spitfire Museum - it used to be an RAF base during the war and actually only closed in 2009. It's so sad when you read through the memorials and all the young men that died were 19, 24, 22 - none of them that I saw were older than 29, so many young lives given to protect their country. It's also very interesting to look around and you get to see some of the planes up close! On Saturday night we went out to the party, which was our reason for being down there. I was really glad that I made the effort to take my mum down there because out of the 7 brothers and sisters, my mum was the only one there. Sometimes our family really wees my off (and that's putting it politely!!) It was good to see my cousins though and my mum ended up getting rather merry (again, putting it mildly LOL!), which is something that she never usually does!! Then this morning, we checked out at 11am and made our way home, which was great until we got to the turn off for my house and it was all blocked off cos of the London Marathon (which starts on the heath outside my house), so we had to go all round the houses and then stay at my mum's for an hour before trying again!
Anyway, on to the card business! I made this card a little while ago but hadn't shared it on here until now, so here it is:

I stamped 'Cowgirl Tilda' in vintage photo distress ink because black looked too harsh, I then watercoloured her with distress inks and cut her out. I've used a Kraft card blank and layered a square of Magnolia paper and a sheriff badge shape that I cut out of kraft card using my Slice machine - all of which I've distressed around the edges with vintage photo d.i. then lastly, I've added some embellies that I found in the Hobbycraft January sales - think they're from Making Memories. And there you go!
I'm going to enter my card into the following challenges:

Right, that's about it from me. Hope you like my card and I've not bored you too much rambling on about me weekend!! I'll be back again in the morning with my Paper Cupcakes DT card. Nighty, night.......x

Friday, 15 April 2011

Hi Everyone. There's 3 days left to enter the current challenge over at Southern Girl's. It's a sketch challenge and the sketch was drawn by our very own lovely Tracy. Here's my go at it:

I've used 'Sassy Grace' which was a freebie that I picked up somewhere from Sassy Cheryl's (which is one of the sponsors for the current challenge). I've coloured it with promarkers and added a bit of glitter to her tutu! All the papers are from Fancy Pants.
Go and join in with the challenge - there's some fab prizes up for grabs and we have a seperate prize for participants from NZ and International.
Right, I'd better go and finish getting ready. We're going away this afternoon, down to Ramsgate which is on the coast. Alot of my mum's family have moved down there and it's her sister's 60th, so they're having a party for her tomorrow night. I'll be back on Sunday (and will have lots of catching up to do, no doubt!) Hope you all have great weekends! x

Thursday, 14 April 2011

Today there's a new challenge over at Delightful Challenges and this week we've got a theme that's hugely popular across blogland right now (probably cos of the time of year!!)......EASTER!! For a change, I decided not to make a card (don't pass out!!), it's a chocolate bar wrapper:

I've used 'Sookie the Chick' coloured with promarkers and cut the image out with my nesties and cuttlebug. The yellow card is Bazzill Basics and I've used a Martha Stewart punch on the wraparound. Lastly, I've added some yellow flowers that I bought from Hobbycraft. There you go, what d'you think? Other than 'Yummmmmm, chocolate!!' At least it makes a plain ole bar of galaxy a bit more seasonal!
I'm also entering my 'project' into the following challenges:

Monday, 11 April 2011

I'm full of the joys of spring today!! It's a beautiful day again and the sun's shining, which somehow always make me feel brighter and I'm all excited about seeing my friend's new baby (from the pics - oh my gawd, he is a little gorgeous cutie!!!!!) And it's the start of a new week! With the new week, brings a new challenge over at Paper Cupcakes and this week, Chelsea has challenged us to use not only stitching but also fabric on our cards!! Here's mine:

The image is from Paper Cupcakes and is coloured with promarkers with the background done in chalks (which is something I'm growing rather fond of lately!), I've used some of my new Ally Pally purchases - the shaped card blank from Craftwork Cards and my GoKreate die to cut the image panel (see how I got them to match!!??), the paper is Papermania Hanoverian and I've added some flowers that I made myself (feeling rather proud of myself about these cos I was pleased with how they turned out!) using some felt and my MFT dies, then lastly, I've popped on a few pearls from my stash.
I'm also going to enter my card into the following challenges:

Sunday, 10 April 2011

There's a new challenge starting today over at Sunday Sketch and Stamp and this week, we had a great sketch by Arianne to work with. Here's my card:

I've used a Tiddly Inks image coloured with promarkers. All the papers are from My Mind's Eye and I've use card from Papermania for matting, etc. I've added a Craftwork Cards sentiment that I went round the edge with a promarker and then stickles, a border cut with my new MS punch, a couple of flowers cut with my Magnolia doohickey, with a couple of Papermania brads in the centre, then lastly, I used my Bazzill Basics template and used some gems from my stash to fill in that corner. Hope you like it. I'm also going to enter it into the following challenges:

Morning All. I got a text not long ago and one of my best friends had her baby in the early hours of the morning, a little boy called Teddy Whitfield - isn't that the cutest name!!?? I can't wait to meet him!
I had planned to post this last night but I was so knackered that I nodded off on the settee quite early (or early for me anyway!) but then I've been up since about 4am!! I had such a fab day at Ally Pally yesterday, I've never been before but because I was meeting up with the wonderful Vicky, I felt more confident about going. It was great meeting Vicky and putting a face to a name and so nice to be able to share my love of crafting with someone because none of my family or friends have got any interest in it. There were lots of bargains to be had! Here's a couple of pics of my goodies:

And a close up of my new stamps!

I bought (deep breath!): Some Craftwork Cards fancy edge card blanks, Craftwork Cards Anglophile goody bag, Martha Stewart 'Cherish' PATP, Go Kreate dies, 2 flower and 1 leaf punch, First Edition 6 x 6 pads x 2, Pinflair and photo glue, Cuttlebug B plates (for £6.90!! Cheapest price I've ever seen), Stickles, x 2 Distress Ink pads, some Little Claire peel offs, new LOTV additions stamps, some Bildmarna stamps (my first time buying these!!), a couple of Ladybug Ink stamps and a Sarah Kay stamp. Phew, right, I think that was it. Spent far too much money but it's not somewhere I go every week. I'd love to go again at the end of the year - so anyone who wants to meet up for that one, drop me a line. It's left me feeling so inspired and I can't wait to start using my bits! Hope you've enjoyed my piccies, if you're interested. I'll be back in an hour or so with my Sunday Sketch and Stamp post.

Friday, 8 April 2011

Evening Everyone! Given that I'm soooo unlucky, I think I've mentioned on here before about how I enter loads of challenges but never seem to win, I've been having my usual mooch round blog land tonight and discovered that I've won not only at Colour Create but also at Stamp Something!!!!!! Wowzers, maybe my luck has changed (where did that word come from LOL!!) I am seriously over the moon!!
We're still having beautiful weather here in London, and look at the beautiful sunset that I took a photo of from my balcony tonight....

Aren't those colours beautiful? They were even better in real life! Also, I know Mother's Day was almost a week ago now but I really wanted to share my wonderful son's card with you, here it is:

He made it at school and when I was telling him how clever he was for making the 3D flower (with some help from his teacher he kept telling me!) and what a gorgeous card it was, d'you know what he said 'You know where I got the idea from.....QVC' LOL - a boy after my own heart. Love him to bits, bless him. And here's a photo of the two of us, which, with the frame, was part of my mother's day present:

And finally, sorry - are you still with me!!? Here's a card that I made for my aunt to give to my cousin....

I've recently discovered (and am lovin'!) Pollycraft and that's one of their images coloured with promarkers. I've used Cosmo Cricket papers, Craftwork Cards sentiments and a flower from my stash with a Papermania jewel brad in the middle. I'm entering it into the following challenges:

That's about it, I think. Another reason why I'm soooooo excited and keep rambling and probably won't get any sleep tonight!! Is that I'm going to Ally Pally tomorrow. Normally I'm not brave enough to go to these sorts of things being on my own but I'm meeting up with the lovely Vicky. I can't wait to meet up with one of my blogging buddies, it's gonna be so much fun to put a face to a name and have a chat while spending some pennies!! I'm off now to leave you in peace, hope I've not bored you too much and that you're still awake LOL!! If you're lucky I'll be back tomorrow with some pics of my goodies. Tootles.......x

Thursday, 7 April 2011

Sorry I've been missing for a couple of days, but I'm sure it feels like longer than it actually is! Hope you're all doing well and enjoying the beautiful weather - if it's as beautiful in your part of the world as it is in London at the moment anyway!!
Today, there's a new challenge over at Delightful Challenges and to celebrate April's Pirate release, we're having a Sun, Sea and Sand theme. Here's my card:

I've used Prissy the Pirate, Map and You're a Treasure - all images from Digital Delights April release. All the papers are Rusty Pickle Pirate Princess, which I thought was appropriate! All I've added is black card from my stash cut using a nestie and my cuttlebug for the mat and a MFT open scallop die and that's about it!
I'm going to enter it into the 'Anything Goes' challenges at Craft Your Passion and Make It Monday. Hope you like it - please let me know that you're still out there ;-) I'll be back later.....til then x

Sunday, 3 April 2011

Oh my goodness, I couldn't have been more proud!!! Since the release of the Simply Sassy's over at Sugar Nellie, I've been a woman in love - LOL!! I don't know what it is about this stamp range - how much I enjoy colouring them with distress inks, their hair, their eyes, their general all over cuteness - yep, I think it's all of that!!! I've even visited Krista's etsy site and am the proud owner of 3 of her prints which are now on my stairway wall. Well, today recognition has come and I couldn't be any more proud!! I'm featured on the Sugar Addicts Showcase Sunday!!!!!!!!! Here's the card I made especially for the feature (thought I'd go with a boy for a change!):

LOL - Hadn't realised before but how appropriate that I used the 'Number one Fan' stamp!!! I've watercoloured him with distress inks. The paper is an odd sheet from Doodlebug, red card from Papermania and the blue card is from Coredinations. The stars, #1 and All Boy have been cut with my Slice and I've added a sentiment from craftwork cards.
I would like to thank Elaine for giving me the honour of appearing on the Sugar Nellie site. I 'met' Elaine a short while ago when she was giving things away on her blog and I was randomly chosen to be sent a couple of stamps - how generous is that!!??
Anyway, I must go before I gush on all day!! Welcome to anyone who's not visited before and Happy Mother's Day to those of you in the UK and around the world - we mums all deserve it!! I've been a seriously lucky mummy this morning, so I'll be back later to show you why! Bye for now..............mwah xx

Saturday, 2 April 2011

I'm soooo sorry to everyone, I'm just so behind. What with the dog being ill this week, it's just caused havoc. My poor little fur baby has been so up and down - he's OK for a couple of days and then it starts up again. If it flares up again, he's definitely going to the vet. The only reason I've not taken him before now is that he's absolutely fine in himself, full of beans and racing about as usual, he's just got a few issues with his back end LOL!! I'd planned to catch up last night when I got in but then just passed out on the settee, so I will try to visit you all, etc tonight but I'm not sure how far back I'll get. Hope you'll forgive me.....xxx
Anyway, enough rambling on! There's a new challenge starting today at the Cupcake Craftroom and after last month's 'black and white', which wasn't so popular (I don't know why, but we only had 11 entries). This month the theme is 'Fresh and New' and it's all about bright colours. I went ker-azy and did 3 cards, here they are:

The top two images are from Tiddly Inks and the third one is Heather Ellis, all coloured with promarkers. All the papers are 'Pollyanna' from Cupcakes Cards and Crafts. I've used a Nellie diecut border on one card, a Martha Stewart punch on another and a Woodware flower to the last and I've used Craftwork cards sentiments and gems from my stash on them all!
I'm also entering them in the following challenges: